City of Lubbock Water Utilities notifies customers with galvanized service lines

LUBBOCK, Texas (News Release) -In November 2023, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), announced updated changes to its Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), called the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which the EPA finalized in October 2024. One of the key elements of the LCRI is to replace certain water lines in ten years, a lowered lead action level in water, and new inventory and reporting requirements.

The City of Lubbock Water Utilities last month released the Lead Service Line Inventory required by USEPA LCRR for water systems and was made available to the public on October 16, 2024. We were pleased to announce and report that the City is lead-free of water service lines in the distribution system.

While the City did not find any lead water service lines, 153 customers' privately-owned water service lines were identified as having galvanized steel pipes. The new USEPA LCRI regulation requires all public water systems to send notifications to customers annually starting this fall until the entire service line is replaced. Lubbock Water Utilities is required to notify both property owner and occupant of the service connection. The notification is meant to explain why the USEPA requires galvanized line replacement, which is to reduce the risk of exposure to lead in drinking water. The notification also provides steps customers can take to reduce exposure. Those with galvanized lines will be receiving notifications by U.S. mail.

It is important to remember that having galvanized steel pipes does not necessarily mean your water contains lead.

For over a century, Lubbock's Water Utility System has delivered safe and reliable water to our customers. Over the years, our rigorous water treatment has shielded it from chemicals, and contamination, including lead.

The water leaving Lubbock's two water treatment plants is delivered lead-free and meets or exceeds federal and state health standards. To learn more about our water quality visit www.mylubbock.us/waterqualityreport .

Lubbock Water Utility is currently developing a galvanized service line replacement plan for property owners identified as having a private service line containing galvanized pipe. This plan will be made available for public access. This federal mandate on galvanized line replacement will commence in October 2027 with a projected completion in 2037. Under the LCRI, all water systems are required to regularly update their inventories and identify the materials of all service lines and communicate the plans of the galvanized replacement program. Throughout the process, Lubbock Water Utility will communicate, educate and provide updates directly to those with privately-owned galvanized service lines.